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Massive crates carrying the 66 foot wings of six AC45 catamarans are carefully being dropped at Navy Pier today. The drop marks one of the many tedious  steps to have America’s Cup racing underway for the first time ever on fresh water in the event 165-year history.

rEvolution has also been diligently working with the America’s Cup Event Authority, local organizers and the Chicago Sports Commission to ensure the event runs smoothly (from start to finish) with the many aspects of business the event entails.

With the event coming to fresh water, and Chicago, for the first time in history, there have certainly been the questions about the oldest trophy in international sport that dates back to 1851. With AC45 catamarans racing at speeds of up to 40 mph just off the banks of the Second City, curiosity has certainly set in throughout the city.

For the two day spectacle on June 11 & 12, as noted by Crain’s, “the World Series event has already sold out of 1,400 weekend passes ($349 apiece) for the grandstand seating on Navy Pier’s end. It has sold nearly 70 percent of its inventory of 12,000 general admission tickets, which grant access to the race village on the eastern half of the pier. Those are still available for $59 weekend passes for adults and $29 for kids.”

In just over a week, Chicago will know what the world’s best sailors literally flying across the water means… But in the meantime, we’re giving an early experience to some professional sports teams throughout the city.

The Chicago Fire took the opportunity to check it out first hand. Midfielder Joey Calistri and Arturo Alvarez assisted on captaining a similar (yet slightly smaller) boat on Lake Michigan this week.

“I had no idea what to expect but it was awesome.” Calistri said, “There is so much that goes into working a sailboat. I had no idea. I had no idea they went that fast either.”

Calistri and Alvarez were a bit startled when the boats literally lifted off the water.

“The first time you’re on a sailboat like that, and it goes up in the air, you’re like ‘whoa, what’s going on?’ But the second and third time, I was enjoying it,” Alvarez said.

It was just an early preview for what other Chicagoans can expect for the event.

“It’s a great city for the event. It’s the Windy City and I think it’s perfect for sailing,” Alvarez said. “They’re going to have a good show.”